Methods and systems for adaptively equalizing an analog information signal for a signal path, including sampling the analog information signal, thereby generating analog samples, and performing an equalizing process on the analog samples, wherein the equalizing includes processing an average of post-transition sample amplitudes and an average of steady state sample amplitudes of the analog samples to produce equalized analog samples.
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1. A method for adaptively equalizing an analog information signal for a signal path, comprising: sampling the analog information signal, thereby generating analog samples; and performing an equalizing process on the analog samples, wherein the performing the equalizing process includes adjusting a difference between an average of post-transition sample amplitudes and an average of steady state sample amplitudes of the analog samples to produce equalized analog samples.
A method for improving the quality of an analog signal traveling along a path involves first sampling the signal to create discrete data points. An equalization process is then applied to these samples to correct for distortions in the signal. This equalization is achieved by minimizing the difference between the average amplitude of the signal samples immediately after a transition (post-transition) and the average amplitude of the signal samples when the signal has reached a stable state (steady-state). By adjusting this difference, the method produces a cleaner, equalized version of the analog signal.
2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising: quantizing the equalized analog samples of the analog information signal.
The method for adaptively equalizing an analog information signal, which involves sampling the analog information signal to generate analog samples and performing an equalizing process on the analog samples to adjust a difference between post-transition and steady-state sample amplitudes, further includes quantizing the equalized analog samples. This quantization step converts the continuous analog values into discrete digital levels, making the signal suitable for digital processing or storage after the equalization process.
3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the performing the equalizing process comprises: comparing a multi-level representation of the equalized samples with the quantized equalized samples; performing a least-means-squared operation on results of the comparison; adjusting an equalization coefficient with a result of the least-means-squared operation; and repeating the comparing through the adjusting.
This method adaptively equalizes an analog information signal for a signal path. It begins by sampling the analog signal to generate analog samples. An equalization process then operates on these samples, adjusting the difference between the average amplitudes of post-transition samples and steady-state samples to produce equalized analog samples. Post-transition samples represent amplitudes after a signal change but before settling to a stable value. These equalized samples are subsequently quantized. Specifically, this equalization process refines its settings by continuously comparing a high-resolution, multi-level representation of the equalized samples with their lower-resolution, quantized versions. The system calculates a Least-Means-Squared (LMS) error from this comparison and uses this error to adjust an equalization coefficient. This cycle of comparing, calculating the LMS error, and adjusting the coefficient is repeated iteratively to continuously optimize the equalization.
4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the performing includes performing the equalizing process at a sub-sample rate relative to the sampling of the analog information signal.
The method for adaptively equalizing an analog information signal, which includes sampling the analog information signal to generate analog samples and performing an equalizing process on the analog samples to adjust a difference between post-transition and steady-state sample amplitudes, performs the equalization process at a slower rate (sub-sample rate) than the rate at which the analog signal is initially sampled. This reduces computational complexity, allowing the equalization to be performed efficiently without processing every single sample.
5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the performing includes performing the equalizing process at an off-set of a sub-sample rate relative to the sampling of the analog information signal.
The method for adaptively equalizing an analog information signal, which includes sampling the analog information signal to generate analog samples and performing an equalizing process on the analog samples to adjust a difference between post-transition and steady-state sample amplitudes, performs the equalization process at a sub-sample rate, but with a time offset relative to the original sampling times. This offset allows the equalizer to capture different parts of the signal transitions, potentially improving equalization accuracy.
6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the adjusting the difference comprises: distinguishing between post-transition samples and steady-state samples; integrating post-transition sample amplitudes; integrating steady-state sample amplitudes; determining a difference between the integrated post-transition sample amplitudes and the integrated steady-state sample amplitudes; adjusting an equalization coefficient to minimize the difference between an average of the integrated post-transition sample amplitudes and an average of the integrated steady-state sample amplitudes; and repeating the distinguishing through the adjusting.
In the method for adaptively equalizing an analog information signal, where the equalization involves adjusting the difference between the average post-transition and steady-state sample amplitudes, this adjustment process specifically involves: first, distinguishing between samples taken immediately after a signal transition (post-transition) and samples taken when the signal has stabilized (steady-state); then, summing up (integrating) the amplitudes of all post-transition samples and, separately, summing up the amplitudes of all steady-state samples; determining the difference between these integrated values; adjusting an equalization coefficient to minimize the difference between the *average* of the integrated post-transition and steady-state sample amplitudes; and repeating the entire process to continuously refine the equalization.
7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the adjusting includes adjusting the difference at a sub-sample rate relative to the sampling of the analog information signal.
The method for adaptively equalizing an analog information signal involving distinguishing between post-transition and steady-state samples, integrating their amplitudes, determining a difference, and adjusting an equalization coefficient to minimize the difference between integrated sample averages, performs the adjustment of the difference between integrated sample amplitudes at a sub-sample rate compared to the rate at which the original analog signal is sampled. This reduces the processing load of the equalization process.
8. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the adjusting includes adjusting the difference at an off-set of a sub-sample rate relative to the sampling the analog information signal.
The method for adaptively equalizing an analog information signal involving distinguishing between post-transition and steady-state samples, integrating their amplitudes, determining a difference, and adjusting an equalization coefficient to minimize the difference between integrated sample averages, performs the adjustment of the difference between integrated sample amplitudes at a sub-sample rate with a time offset, relative to the initial sampling of the analog information signal. This allows the system to analyze the signal at slightly shifted points in time, potentially improving equalization performance.
9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the adjusting the difference comprises: distinguishing between post-transition samples and steady-state samples; averaging post-transition sample amplitudes; averaging steady-state sample amplitudes; determining a difference between the averaged post-transition sample amplitudes and the averaged steady-state sample amplitudes; adjusting an equalization coefficient to minimize the difference between the averaged post-transition sample amplitudes and the averaged steady-state sample amplitudes; and repeating the distinguishing through the adjusting.
In the method for adaptively equalizing an analog information signal, where the equalization involves adjusting the difference between the average post-transition and steady-state sample amplitudes, this adjustment process involves: first, distinguishing between samples taken immediately after a signal transition (post-transition) and samples taken when the signal has stabilized (steady-state); then, averaging the amplitudes of the post-transition samples and averaging the amplitudes of the steady-state samples separately; determining the difference between these averaged values; adjusting an equalization coefficient to minimize the difference between the averaged post-transition and steady-state sample amplitudes; and repeating the entire process to continuously refine the equalization.
10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the adjusting the difference comprises: distinguishing between post-transition samples and steady-state samples; accumulating post-transition sample amplitudes; accumulating steady-state sample amplitudes; determining a difference between the accumulated post-transition sample amplitudes and the accumulated steady-state sample amplitudes; adjusting an equalization coefficient to minimize the difference between an average of the accumulated post-transition sample amplitudes and an average of the accumulated steady-state sample amplitudes; and repeating the distinguishing through the adjusting.
In the method for adaptively equalizing an analog information signal, where the equalization involves adjusting the difference between the average post-transition and steady-state sample amplitudes, this adjustment process involves: first, distinguishing between samples taken immediately after a signal transition (post-transition) and samples taken when the signal has stabilized (steady-state); then, accumulating (summing) the amplitudes of the post-transition samples and accumulating the amplitudes of the steady-state samples separately; determining the difference between these accumulated values; adjusting an equalization coefficient to minimize the difference between the *average* of the accumulated post-transition and steady-state sample amplitudes; and repeating the entire process to continuously refine the equalization.
11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the performing the equalizing process comprises minimizing inter-symbol interferences in the samples.
The method for adaptively equalizing an analog information signal by sampling it and then performing an equalizing process on the samples to adjust the difference between average post-transition and steady-state sample amplitudes aims to minimize inter-symbol interference (ISI) in the samples. ISI occurs when the signal from one symbol interferes with the signal from adjacent symbols, causing distortion and errors. By minimizing the amplitude difference described, the method reduces ISI and improves signal clarity.
12. A method for processing time staggered portions of an analog information signal for a signal path, comprising: sampling the analog information signal at a plurality of phases; measuring an equalization quality of the samples from one of the plurality of phases; and equalizing the samples from each of the phases based on the measured equalization quality of the one phase, the equalizing including adjusting a difference between an average of post-transition sample amplitudes and an average of steady state sample amplitudes of the analog samples.
A method for processing an analog signal that is split into time-staggered portions involves sampling the signal at multiple different time phases. It then measures the quality of the equalization achieved on the samples from one of these phases. Based on this measured equalization quality, it equalizes the samples from *all* phases by adjusting the difference between the average amplitudes of post-transition samples and steady-state samples to optimize the signal across all phases.
13. The method according to claim 12 further comprising: quantizing the equalized analog samples.
The method for processing time staggered portions of an analog information signal for a signal path, which involves sampling the analog information signal at a plurality of phases, measuring an equalization quality of the samples from one of the plurality of phases, and equalizing the samples from each of the phases based on the measured equalization quality by adjusting a difference between an average of post-transition sample amplitudes and an average of steady state sample amplitudes of the analog samples, further comprises quantizing the equalized analog samples. This conversion to discrete digital levels prepares the signals for digital processing.
14. A system for processing a serial analog information signal, comprising: a sampler configured to sample the serial analog information signal to generate analog samples; an equalizer coupled to said sampler and configured to minimize inter-symbol interferences in the analog samples output from said sampler, said equalizer being configured to adjust a difference between an average of post-transition sample amplitudes and an average of steady state sample amplitudes of the analog samples to generate equalized samples; and a quantizer coupled to said equalizer and configured to quantize said equalized samples output from said equalizer.
A system for processing a serial analog signal contains a sampler that converts the continuous signal into discrete samples. An equalizer, connected to the sampler, reduces inter-symbol interference (ISI) by adjusting the difference between the average amplitudes of the samples taken immediately after transitions (post-transition) and the average amplitudes of samples when the signal is stable (steady-state). Finally, a quantizer converts the equalized analog samples into discrete digital levels.
15. The system of claim 14 , further comprising control logic coupled to a finite impulse response (FIR) filter in said equalizer, said control logic including: a difference detector including a steady-state path, a post-transition path, and a combiner, wherein said combiner is configured to output an average difference between post-transition amplitudes of the equalized samples and steady-state amplitudes of the equalized samples; and a state machine coupled to one or more outputs of said difference detector and configured to generate tap updates for said FIR filter according to said average difference.
The system for processing a serial analog information signal, including a sampler, equalizer (that minimizes inter-symbol interferences by adjusting post-transition and steady-state amplitude differences), and quantizer, also includes control logic connected to a finite impulse response (FIR) filter within the equalizer. This control logic has a difference detector that calculates the average difference between post-transition and steady-state amplitudes. A state machine then uses this average difference to generate tap updates for the FIR filter, which adjusts the filter's characteristics to further minimize ISI.
16. The system according to claim 15 , wherein said control logic further comprises: a first input coupled to an output of said equalizer; an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) coupled to said first input; and a control module coupled to an output of said ADC, wherein said ADC is configured to generate multi-level representations of equalized samples, and said control module is configured to generate said tap updates from at least said multi-level representations of the equalized samples.
The system for processing a serial analog signal, which incorporates a sampler, an equalizer with an FIR filter and tap updates, and a quantizer, has control logic that further comprises: An input connected to the equalizer's output; an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) converting the equalized analog samples to multi-level digital representations; and a control module receiving the ADC output, generating the FIR filter tap updates using at least the multi-level representations. This converts the analog samples into a digital form suitable for advanced control logic.
17. The system according to claim 16 , wherein said control logic further comprises: a second input coupled to an output of said quantizer; and a least-means-squared (LMS) module coupled to said first and second control logic inputs, wherein said LMS module is configured to compare the multi-level representations of equalized samples with the quantized samples from said quantizer, and to generate said tap updates according to the comparison.
In the system for processing a serial analog signal which includes a sampler, an equalizer with an FIR filter, a quantizer, an ADC converting the equalized samples to multi-level representations, and a control module, the control logic further contains: a second input connected to the quantizer's output; and a least-means-squared (LMS) module. This LMS module compares the multi-level representations of the equalized samples with the quantized samples and generates the tap updates for the FIR filter based on this comparison, refining the equalization process.
18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the post-transition sample amplitudes represent amplitudes of the equalized analog samples after transitioning from a first amplitude to a second amplitude before settling to a steady state value.
In the method for adaptively equalizing an analog information signal by sampling and then adjusting the difference between post-transition and steady-state sample amplitudes, the post-transition sample amplitudes specifically refer to the amplitudes of the equalized analog samples taken *after* the signal transitions from one amplitude level to another, but *before* the signal fully settles to its final steady-state value. These samples capture the transient behavior of the signal as it responds to changes, and are key to the equalization process.
19. The method of claim 12 , wherein the post-transition sample amplitudes represent amplitudes of the equalized analog samples after transitioning from a first amplitude to a second amplitude before settling to a steady state value.
In the method for processing time-staggered portions of an analog signal, which includes sampling the signal at multiple phases and equalizing samples based on the difference between post-transition and steady-state sample amplitudes, the post-transition sample amplitudes represent the amplitudes of the equalized analog samples after transitioning from one amplitude level to another but *before* the signal reaches its final steady-state value. These values characterize the signal's transient response after a transition.
20. The system of claim 14 , wherein the post-transition sample amplitudes represent amplitudes of the equalized analog samples after transitioning from a first amplitude to a second amplitude before settling to a steady state value.
In the system for processing a serial analog signal using a sampler, equalizer and quantizer where the equalizer adjusts based on the difference between post-transition and steady-state sample amplitudes, the post-transition sample amplitudes represent the amplitudes of the equalized samples taken after a transition from a first amplitude to a second amplitude has begun, and before the signal has completely settled to a steady-state value.
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May 9, 2012
June 25, 2013
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